Stem Cells Derived from Amniotic Fluid

In this chapter, we provide an overview of the potential advantages and disadvantages of different stem and progenitor cell populations identified to date in amniotic fluid, along with their properties and potential clinical applications. In the last ten years, placenta, fetal membranes (i.e., amnion and chorion), and amniotic fluid have been investigated as potentially uncontroversial sources of stem cells. Such tissues are typically discarded after delivery or are accessible during pregnancy through amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. Cell populations having multilineage differentiation potential and immunomodulatory properties have been isolated from the human placenta and fetal membranes, including human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs), human chorionic mesenchymal stromal cells (hCMSCs), and human chorionic trophoblastic cells (hCTCs). From amniotic fluid (AF), two stem cell populations have been isolated: amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (AFMSCs) and amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells. It is possible that these cells may, given the easier accessibility of AF in comparison with other extra-embryonic tissues, hold much promise in regenerative medicine.